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West Africa in wet season West Africa in wet season
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sub-Saharan Africa Topics specific to sub-Saharan Africa. (Includes all countries South of 17 degrees latitude)
Photo by Giovanni Lamonica, Aralsk, Kazakhstan.

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Giovanni Lamonica,
Aralsk, Kazakhstan.



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  #1  
Old 27 Aug 2015
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West Africa in wet season
Hi everyone.


Was planning a 4 month trip from my home in Brighton to cape town, this April to august. Was planning on taking a modified DRZ (larger tank ect ect.)

However was looking into climate charts and seems to be chucking in down in west africa (cameroon, nigeria ect) when I will be intending to past through in May, June sort of time.

Think 4 months for this distance is pushing it anyhow so can't really be affording to stuck in mud for weeks.

Is this a feasible option still or have I fallen on the first hurdle (don't worry have a couple of less ambitious back up plans)

Thanks in advance

only other relevant thread I could find

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...on-congo-71122
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  #2  
Old 27 Aug 2015
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Location: Kinshasa
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Hi DR11,

I think it's possible to still cross without getting stuck too much. If you stick to the main roads that are mostly sealed now you should be ok.
The parts that are not sealed are the gravel ones and you might find big water holes on the road. You just might end up driving for hours if not days in the pooring rain..
I just passed congo B, Gabon, Cameroen, Nigeria all the way up to Guinee conakry and into Senegal in the last 5 months. Guinea was a lot of rain, continuing for hours. The worst roads were probably from Congo B into Gabon, and from Gabon into Cameroen.
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  #3  
Old 27 Aug 2015
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thanks for that,

so you reckon more of an issue of braving the rain than the road conditions? interesting. Had a lot practice at that in england
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  #4  
Old 28 Aug 2015
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Location: Krasnoyarsk, Russia
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4 months might be pushing it, rainy season or no. It's not difficult to lose a week or two here or there due to visa issues, bike breakdowns, anything needing to be shipped, or just good old fashioned hospitality. Things rarely go according to plan in Africa.
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  #5  
Old 14 Sep 2015
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90 days Holland-Congo-Cape-Town wet season no problem
It,s no problem did it in 2014 90 days Holland to Cape-Town (west coast) and yes Congo to Zambia in the wet season needed more then two weeks for 2500 kilometer , did it on a africatwin, planning this trip again and need four more people , i have the bikes and the gear you need. check it out africaallroad.com
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  #6  
Old 18 Sep 2015
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Location: Freetown, Sierra Leone.
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Just to give you an idea.
Although these pics are the extreme, this was the state of Freetown in the last 3 days.
Cheers,
CJ.
West Africa in wet season-img-20150916-wa0009.jpg

West Africa in wet season-img-20150916-wa0013.jpg
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  #7  
Old 18 Sep 2015
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Posts: 973
During rainy season the roads in Kamerun turn into mud. Have fun:


http://afrikamotorrad.eu/?report=en_westkueste
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  #8  
Old 13 Oct 2015
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It is quite possible to do West Africa in the wet season I just did. Would I do it again No.
Apart from the very heavy rains most days the clay roads turn to crap and are as slippery as ice. When the roads are dry there is no problems but you dont get to many dry days.

Im about to cross Into the DRC and hoping Ive just beat the wet through there as DRC in Wet season will be hell.

You can have a look at my current trip here.


https://www.facebook.com/drcanafricanadventure

Regards

Patrick
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